The Winnetka Academic Analysis Chart and the Winnetka Chart Form

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

The most crucial problem of a testing program is to translate test data into appropriate and significant teaching practice. Of course the effectiveness of that translation depends upon the understanding, wis dom, and ability of the teacher who is applying test information to the details of her daily work with children. No mechanical agency can do the translating. Nevertheless, the technique of presenting test data is of fundamental importance. It may determine both the extent to which, and the way in which, the test data are used. Hence we must attend closely to the mechanics or techniques used in reporting the findings of a testing program. The Winnetka Academic Analysis Chart is a graphic device for pre senting the results of intelligence, achievement and special ability tests to teachers. It shows the data clearly and impressively in a way that has meaning in terms of teaching procedure. The Winnetka Chart Form is an instrument designed to simplify the clerical work of preparing and plotting the test results on the chart. In this article1 it is our purpose to explain the nature of the Winnetka Academic Analysis Chart and the Winnetka Chart Form, and to show ways in which they may be used to aid in converting raw test data into understanding and effective work with individual children. When reporting the findings of a testing program, several things should be kept in mind: The teacher should be able to read and use the data with a minimum of clerical work and mathematical calculation. Data should be constantly at hand where she can refer to them quickly and easily whenever an appropriate question arises. It is important for information to be available in concise and compact form, and it should not be necessary to thumb through a mass of material in order to find any desired item. The relationships between any one test item and the many others which have a bearing upon its interpretation should be ap parent without the rather futile effort of attempting to correlate a dis connected series of tables, graphs, lists and verbal reports that obscure important relationships by their very dispersedness. The information should always be current?up to date?not a picture of the situation at